Best Dispersed Camping near Council, ID
Several dispersed camping areas surround Council, Idaho, primarily around the nearby lakes and reservoirs. Lost Valley Reservoir offers primitive shoreline camping with vault toilets at some sites but no drinking water. The gravel access road splits, with the left fork leading to Cold Spring Campground and the right continuing to lakeside dispersed sites. Camping is available directly along the water early in the season, though water levels drop significantly by August.
Mann Creek Recreation Area provides primitive camping near the reservoir with limited shade and level parking areas for both tents and RVs. The area features vault toilets but no drinking water or hookups. Little Payette Lake, Goose Lake, and Brundage Reservoir offer more remote dispersed options, all within reasonable driving distance of Council. Most sites operate on a 14-day stay limit. According to one visitor, "There are camp sites all along this stretch of the lake with direct access to the water. A few sites have a common outhouse with no running water." Mosquitoes are prevalent at most locations, particularly at dawn and dusk, with some campers noting they can be "horrible" at Little Payette Lake.